Oh - "I'm thinking about [going to games] this year as well. It's still in the early stages, so nothing has been decided yet. I'll need to talk to the scouts and if they need me, I'll go. Nothing has changed in this regard from last season."

Seibu Lions

Yasuyuki Kataoka played in an Ikusei League game today (vs Lotte, started at second and batter first) in order to make sure he was ready to play in an exhibition game on the 5th (vs Hanshin). Seems he was a little worried about his mobility (working his way back from right foot pain) and wanted to check on his movement around second base.

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Hisanobu Watanabe, pitching coach Kazuyoshi Ono, and battery coach Hidekazu Mitsuyamaall worked withTatsuya Oishi (1st round) yesterday. He also tossed about 30 pitches in the bullpen (a light session) and told reporters that he felt he was throwing better after making the adjustments the coaches suggested, better than when he pitched at Tokyo Dome on the 2nd against the Yomiuri Giants.

Sho Nakataworked out at third base during fielding practice yesterday. Nakata later told reporters he wanted to be ready in case the team needed him to play some third since Eiichi Koyano is out with a fracture in his right wrist. But it seems that won't be happening any time soon as Masataka Nashida said he wasn't planning on having Nakata take on another position, especially since he's been playing well at first.

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The media is playing up the Yuki Saito (1st round) vs Hayato Sakamoto (YOM) angle (Daily Sports, Sanspo). The last time the two met (11/22/2009), Sakamoto hit a single to left off Saito.

There's a good chance that Chan Ho Parkwill get the opening day start at this point. And because of the way the schedule is set up, he'll not only starter the season opener (3/25 vs Softbank Hawks at Yahoo Dome), but also the home opener (4/1 vs Rakuten Eagles at Kyocera Dome).

A plan is currently developing that involves the Buffaloes inviting the Korean pop groupShojo Jidai (少女時代) to sing the Korean National Anthem and to throw out a ceremonial first pitch some time during a series against the Seibu Lions (4/22 - 4/24). The Buffaloes are also thinking about setting up a Korean Day at some point around that time as well.